It’s official: Marc Marquez will remain a Repsol Honda Team rider until – at least – the end of 2024, which will see him extend his run with HRC to 12-straight years.
The reigning eight-time World Champion is the most dominant Honda rider in the premier class, ever. His 56 victories, 95 podiums, 62 pole positions and six titles between 2013 and 2019 has established the number 93 as the man to beat in this current MotoGP™ era, and his magnificent career has already cemented his as one of the greatest of all time. Four more years of the most formidable partnerships we’ve ever witnessed is both enthralling and terrifying at the same time.
Only former teammate and MotoGP™ Legend Dani Pedrosa had a longer run with Honda. The three-time World Champion spent his entire Grand Prix career with the Japanese giants, enjoying 18 successful years across all classes and 13 in MotoGP™.
There are other all-time greats that have enjoyed a substantial amount of success with just one manufacturer too. Wayne Rainey and Kenny Roberts competed in seven and eight seasons respectively with Yamaha, picking up three titles each. Kevin Schwantz was with Suzuki for 10 years, claiming one title between 1986-1995, with Wayne Gardner competing in 10 seasons with Honda, picking up the 1978 500cc title. Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) and the late, great Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) are two athletes outside of motorcycle racing who have reached the pinnacle of their sport with just one team.
Marc Marquez and Honda are already an iconic duo. And to say the Cervera-born rider has to switch manufacturers to prove he’s one of the greatest-ever is a flawed argument. Four more years of Marc Marquez and HRC is coming our way between 2020 and 2024, it’s up to the competitors to knock them off their perch.
With 0.345 splitting every factory at the Sepang Test though, it seems the reigning World Champions won’t have it all their own way in 2020. Blood-thirsty winners are waiting in the wings at Yamaha, Ducati, Suzuki, KTM and Aprilia this season, as we get ourselves set for a barnstormer this year. The Qatar Test on 22nd-24th February will offer more questions and answers before the opening round begins at the Losail International Circuit on 6th-8th March.